The stretch of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru National Highway (48) between Gundya and Sakleshpur will be closed for vehicular traffic from Friday to facilitate concreting of the road.
In view of this, buses, cars, jeeps and other light commercial vehicles from Mangaluru to Bengaluru will have to go via B.C. Road, Mani, Puttur, Madikeri, Hunsur, Mysore, Mandya and Ramanagaram. Those going to Hassan will have to take a diversion at Hunsur and reach Hassan from Holenarasipur. Heavy vehicles will have to go via Udupi, Kundapur, Bhatkal, Murudeshwar, Honnavar, Shimoga, Tiptur and Nelamangala.
Buses, cars, jeeps and vans from Udupi to Bengaluru will have to go via Karkala, Malaghat, Kudremukh, Kalasa, Kottigehara, Mudigere, Belur and Hassan. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s Rajahamsa and Airavata buses and heavy commercial vehicles will have to take the Kundapur–Siddapura–Hosangadi –Balebare Ghat–Mastikatte–Hosanagar–Ayanur–Shimoga route.
At a press conference here, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai said there would be strict vigil at regular intervals by the police to ensure vehicles were plying on these routes. “There will be confusion for the first few days. If vehicles are found violating the routes, fine will be imposed,” he said. The alternative roads would be used till the roadwork was completed. The first of the three-part roadwork, which has been taken up now, was likely to be completed by May, he said.
Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. said hoardings had been placed at diversion points to ensure compliance. He said the movement of traffic on these routes would be studied and changes done if there were any problems.
